Breech-closing mechanism for recoil-guns.



No. 66l,55.- Paented Nov. I3, |906.l C. PGHLET.

BREECH CLOSING MECHANISM FRBEGOIL GUNS.

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. gli Pa-Lm A B REECH CLOSIQQG MECHANSM FOR 'RECl-L GUNS. Y(Appmmmm mea Aug. 1s, 1900.)

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lBREECH CLDSING FECHANISM FOR BEGIL GUNS. (Application filed Aug. 18, 1900,) (No Model.)

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ecKERr LI -UNTTED STATES PATENT Trios,

CARL POHLIT, OF ESSEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO FRIED. KRUPP, OF

SAME PLACE.

BREEcHcLos|Ne MECHANISM FoR-REcoIL-GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming para of Letters Patent No. 661,550, dated November 13, 1900.

Application filed August 18, 1900- Serial No. 27,278. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CARL POHLIT, a citizen of the German Empire, residing at Essen-onthe-Ruhr, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech- Closing Mechanism for Recoil-Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to breechclosing mechanism for recoil -guns having horizontal wedge-blocks, and particularly for such of large caliber, and has for its object to utilize the recoil and running-out movement of the barrel relatively to the carriage for the purpose of automatically opening the breech.

The object of thisinvention is accomplished by securing to the screw-spindle, by which an inward and outward movement ofthe breechblock is effect-ed, a gear-wheel adapted to engage with and be turned by a rack moving with the gun-barrel, but at reduced speed, and thus effecting the opening of the breech.

The nature of the invention will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a side elevation, partly in section,ofa gun provided with theimprovedv breech-operating mechanism, the parts being shown in the positions they are in just before firing. Fig. 2 is a top View of Fig. l, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a rear View. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 i, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 5, Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a side elevation similar to Fig. l, but showing the parts in the positions assumed when the gun-barrel has ended its recoil in the cradle. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the parts in the positions assumed after the running-out movement of the gun is finished. Fig. 8 is a top view of Fig. 7.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the present instance the invention is applied to a gun having its barrel mounted in a cradle, and a construction is shown in which the closing of the breech is also effected automatically by a spring, in which latter energy for this purpose is stored by the recoil of the gun-barrel.

ner in a cradle B, so that after the shot is tired it can recoil or move backwardly in a straight line in the cradle and then run out or move forwardly. In the breech-block C is mounted, so as to be capable of being turned, a screwspindle D, which engages with a thread in the barrel A and effects the opening and closing of the breech when turned. I-t is assumed that the screw-spindle and the thread are constructed similarly to the construction described in United States Letters Patent No. 617,907, granted to me January 17, 1899, and the same need not, therefore, be more fully described here. To the end ofthe screw-spindle D, projecting beyond the breech-block C, is secured a gear-wheel E, which is constantly in engagement with the teeth of a rack F. The rack E can move in a straight line in a housing G, secured to the crown of the wedgeblocl; C, and is guided by rails g in the housing, which engage with suitable waysf formed on the sides of the rack. The stroke of the rack is in such proportion to the diameter of the gear that when the rack is moved to its full stroke backward and forward the breech is fully opened and closed. Of course the movement of the rack in opposite directions is limited by the movement of the wedgeblock through the medium of the screw-spindle, since after complete opening and closing of the breech it is impossible to further turn the screw-spindle in either direction. In the front and strengthened part]2 of the rack E is vertically mounted a spring-pressed bolt L, the spring M of which tends to press the same constantly upward into a position in which it would project above the top surface of the part f2 of the rack. At the lower end of the bolt L is pivoted a hand-lever N, having a thumb-like projection n, which bears against the lower surface of the rack, sothat by turning the lever N toward the gun-barrel the bolt L can be drawn downwardly. To the cradle B is rigidly secured a horizontal plate Q, which may be termed the impactplate. This plate has for its purpose, by cooperating with the bolt L, to ultimately effect the opening of the breech when the gun is run out. To bring about this result, the edge q' of the impact-plate, which edge may be called the impact edge, is arranged in IOO vof the bolt L when the latter is in its lower vertical position, so that part f2 and housing G can pass under the impact-plate at any time, but the bolt L only when in its lower vertical position, Fig. l. The impact-plate Q extends from the cradle so far backward that after the end of the recoil of the barrel (see Fig. l5) the bolt L is not covered by the same; but said bolt is in a position somewhat back of the plate and is therefore in its upper vertical position. In consequence of this it can readily be seen that the upper side l of the bolt L will strike against the impact edge q when the gun-barrel is run out and will hold up the rack F, so that the gear E, which participates in the further movement of the gun-barrel, rolls on the rack and effects the opening of the breech. To provide for the outward movement of the wedge-blocl which here takes place, together with the rack F and the gear E, the impact-plate-that is, its impact edge-extends from the gunbarrel so far outwardly that after the complete opening of the block the bolt L is still against the impact edge. Since, in the example illustrated, the length of the ru nning-out movement of the barrel and the stroke of the rack are not the same, the latter being much smaller than the former, the impact edge q' of the plate Q is made oblique and slanted forward from the gun-barrel, and the side Z2 of the bolt is correspondingly slanted, Fig. 8. In consequence of this the bolt L can as it moves along the edge q on the opening of the breech simultaneously movetoward the front through a distance equal to the difference between the ru nning-out movement of the barrel and the stroke of the rack. In order to accomplish also an automatic closing of the breech after it has been automatically opened, the following provision is made: In the housing G is placed a long helical spring R, which sur rounds a cylirdrical rod S and bears with one end against a head s on said rod and with its other end against the reinforced part f2 of the rack F. The rod S can be moved in the direction of its length in the housing Gand eX- tends forwardly through an opening in the part]c2 of the rack and also through a vertical slot Z in the bolt L. The portion of the rod projecting` through the rack also passes through avertical slot y in a stop Y, formed on the lower face of the impact-plate'Q-,and

remains in said slot as long as the breech is closed. The slot| Jl opens laterally or outwardly, so that the rod S can pass outc'f'the slot when the breech-block is moved out wardly. The rod S has at its forward external part two stops U and V, formed by nuts, and at the part inside of the housing it has a socket S2. The stop U is so arranged that when the gun is in its normal position, Fig.

l, the front crowned face of the part]c2 of the rack F abuts directly against the same, so that the rear teeth of the rack F, engaging with the gear-wheel E, are relieved from the pressure of the spring R. The stop V has for its purpose to bend the spring R when the gun-barrel recoils, which it does by engaging the stop Y, and so holding back the rod S.

The stop V is so set that when the spring R is completelyT bent at the end of the recoil of the barrel the socket s2 of the rod S is exactly Within the bolt L. In this position the lower wall of the slot Z in the bolt L can pass into the socket s2, thus coupling the rod S and the rack F and maintaining the tension of the spring when the rod is freed from the stop Y of the impact-plate Q by the outward movement of the breech. By pulling down the bolt L the coupling between the rod S and the rack F is disconnected. Since the recoil of the barrel is variable within small limits, the length of the socket szis made somewhat greater than the breadth of the bolt-that is to say, by a length X, Figs. 6 and 7, which is equal to the distance between the maximum and minimum recoils. In consequence thereof the rod S can shift in one direction or another with respect to the rack F, even if the bolt L engages the socket.

Before the gun is fired the several parts are in the positions shown in Figs. l and 2. The gun-barrel is in its outermost position relative tothe cradle and the breech is closed and locked. The spring R is at its initial tension and the rack F moved toward the front, so that the part f2 thereof is below the impactplate Q and the latter holds the bolt L down. The head s of the rod S rests against the rear end of the housing G. On tiring, the barrel A recoils in the cradle B and the first part of the movement is participated in by the breech-block, the housing G, attached thereto, and all the parts contained in said housing, (rack F, spring R, and rod S,`) so that no change is made in the relative positions of the r'ecoiling parts. 0n continued motion of the barrel the stop V of the rod S engages the rigid stop Y and is held back and the head S of said rod forms from this instant on a rigid hearing for the spring R, which is now compressed by the part f2 ot' the recoilingrack, Fig. 6. rToward the end of the recoil, and soon as the lower wall of the slot l' arrives opposite to the socket s2 of the rod S, the bolt L projects above the impact-plate Q and rises under the pressure of the spring M into the socket s2 of the rod S. Since the length of the socket s2 is somewhat greater than the width of the bolt L, the latter, and consequently the rack F, can move backward a little farther on the rod S through the distance X. At the end of the recoil the several parts take the positions shown in Fig. 6, it being assumed that the gun-barrel has passed through the maximum recoil.

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When the running out of the barrel starts,

the rack F also moves a little distance toof the socket s2.

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'ward the front without any relative movement or displacement between it and the breech. ThespringRissomewhatdistended, while't-h'e rod S remains at rest, for'such a time until the bolt L engages the front edge From this moment on the rod S is alsocarried forward.

changed for the present, since the same are coupled by the bolt L, and the spring R remains compressed when the rodS is released .from the stop Y in consequence of the .out-

of the impact-plate Q, so that the rack F is prevented from moving farther forward together with the barrel, the breech-block,.and the gear E. In consequence of this the gear E begins to roll on the rack F and turns the screw-spindle D to the left, and said spindle effects the'opening of the breech in the wellknown manner. During this movement the breech-block moves laterally out lof the wedge-chamber, and the housing G and the parts installed therein ,participate in the said movement, so that the rod S passes out of the slot 'y' and disengages itself from the stop Y, and the side Z2 of the bolt L moves along the oblique edge q'. .In lso doing the bolt L is moved so far toward the front as corresponds to the oblique position of the edge q. Since the forward movement of the rack F corresponds with that of the bolt L, the saidrack does not stand absolutely still, but is delayed in its forward movement with respect to the breech and the barrel At the end of the running-out movement the several parts assume the positions shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The bolt L rests against the outer end of the impact edge q', the gear E engages the forward teeth of the rack F, and the breech is fully opened. During the running-out movement the housing G is shoved over the rod S, so that its rear end abuts against the collar s.

After the gun has been reloaded the lever N is turned to draw the bolt L downwardly against the action of its spr-ing M, thereby uno-,oupling the rod S from the rack F, and the top surface of the'bolt L is now below the lower face of the impact-plate Q. .In consequence of this the spring [t is distended and presses the rack F toward the front, since the head s cannot be moved against the housing Gn This, however, causes the gear E to be turned lo the right, which causes the breech to be closed through the'agency of the screwspindle D. After the breech isclosed the gun is in its firing position, as shown in Fig. 1.

'Phe invention is of course also applicable to breech-closing mechanism where another form ofpscrew-'spindle different frointhat shown in the said Letters Patent previouslyreferred to is used. Furthermore, it is not absolutely essential that the screw-spindle tht-nld be located in the breech-block. It

'lhe relative. 'positions of the rack F and the 'rod S are not' might be\ mounted in the breech and coperate withrjan internal thread in the. breechblock. In this case the rack F would also be mounted in the breech and the impact-plate would extend vertically tothe axis of the barrel, only so far outwardly as to form a stop for the rack,'whichnownroves only' ai ,Straight line.

Wha'tl claim as new'isl. In a breech-loading mechanism having a breech-block moved inland'out by a screwspindle, the combination of a rack participating-at a reduced rate of speed in the runningout movement of the gun-barrel, and a gearwheel secu red to the screwY spindle and adapt-y ed to roll on the rack during the running-out movement of the 'barrel for automatically turning the screw-spindle to open the breech, substantially as described. p

2. In a breech-loading mechanism having a breech-,block moved in and out by a screwspindle, the combination of a rack participating in the running-out movement of the gunbarrel and in the-inward and outward.A movement ofllihe breech-block, means for reducing the longitudinal vmovement of the rack relative to thercnning-on t movement of the gun,

'and a gearwheel secu red to the screw-spindle and movin f inwardly and outwardly with the saine and ngaging with the rack. during the running-ont movement of the gun for automatically turningthe spindle to open lthe breech, substantially as described.

3. In a breech-loading mechanism having a breech-block move-d in and out by-a screwspindle, the combination of a housing attached to the breech-block, a rack guided to vmove in said housing, a spring-pressed bolt mounted in the hrack and movable at an angle to the same, an impact-plate attached to a stationary part of thegun and having a lat-l erally-extending edge adapted to engage with the bolt during a portion of the running-ont movement of thc gun-barrel, while its body engages with and holds down the bolt during the recoil of the gun-barrel, and a gear-wheel attached to the screw-spindle and' engaging with said rack, substantiallyas described.

4. In a breech-loading vmechanism having a breech-block moved in and out by a screwspindle, the combination of a housing attached to the breech-block, arack guided to move in said housing, a spring-pressed bolt mounted in the rack and movable at an angle to the same, an impact-plate attached to a -stati-onary part of the gun and havinga lateral impactedge extending obliquely to the axis of the gun-barrel and adapted to engage with the bolt during a portion of the runningout movement of the gun-'barrel for reducing the speed of the rack, while its body engages with and holds down the bolt during the recoil movement of the gun-barrel, and a gearwheel attached to the screw-spindle and engaging with said rack, substantially as debreech-block moved in and out l) Y a screwspindle, the combination oi' n housing1 attached tothe lneeoh-bloek, :L mok guided-Lo move in 'said housing', mounted in the rack, to move at right angles to the same, anflnpzot-plate nlllnohed' Lo the cradle of the gun and having in im pact edge extending obliquel-y o i'he axis of the gun` barrel and adapted to engage with the bolt during the running-owl movement; of the 511mlm'i'rel, while its body engages wilhnnfl holds clown the bolt during-the recoil movement. of lalle gun-bzm'el, means` for wirlnlmwing the bolli, a roll mounted in the honeing, n sp1-ing sul-roundingT said rod n-ndconfined between the mok and 2L head .on said rod, :in open slop on the-impagb-plate,stops on the rofl low-led on opposite sidosof the. former, stop, menne ny hund in the or-oonnecling the rod nn'cl bolt and fordis connecting the sume, and :i gear-wheel on lthe Screw-annullo; whorehybho rod is held from.

xx-'m'llgrnovemenb of the breech-block, s'nbslz-Lnainllyvzis described.

`In testimony whereof l hzwo hereunto setI presence of two subscribing 

